Sacrament of Matrimony

Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God. As such, marriage is a Sacrament of the Church. The ceremony is to be attested to by at least two witnesses besides the priest or deacon. It is to conform to the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Canons of the Roman Catholic Church

Christian Marriage Eligibility:

One of the persons to be married must be a practicing Catholic. Except in extraordinary circumstances the couple should contact the church at least six months prior to the wedding.

If either of the parties has been married before, it will need to be determined whether that person is free to marry in the Catholic Church. Since the process can take up to a year, it is essential that this matter be resolved before setting the wedding date.

In general, these are the major stepping stones in a couple’s preparation for marriage in the Diocese of Richmond. In order to allow enough time to accomplish everything that is needed, a couple should begin the preparation process at least 6-9 months prior to their ideal wedding date.

Initial meeting with the Director of Religious Education to discuss the preparation process.

The couple attends a marriage preparation program approved by the diocese.

The couple meets with the priest or deacon to discuss the premarital inventory (PMI), and all documentation for the marriage file is finalized

The couple meets with the Director of Music and The Director of Religious Education to discuss readings and music.